president obama returned to the white house in a grim mood. he met with no congressional leaders and said nothing about his efforts to avert the fiscal cliff. talks continue between senior white house and congressional staff, but that's been true throughout then tire saga. with the deadline looming there were dire predictions. >> come the first of this year, americans will have less income than they have today. >> and rekrimm nations. >> now republicans have bent over backward. we've stepped way, way out of our comfort zone. we wanted an agreement, but we had no takers. >> the senate's top democrat said it has nothing to do with phone calls but house republican obstruction. >> thehouse of representatives is operating without the house of representatives. it's being operated with a dictatorship of the speaker, not allowing the vast majority of the house of representatives to get what they want. >> house speaker john boehner oldered republicans back to the capitol for a rare sunday night session. republicans expect to vote then on whatever fisca